Timing instrument



(No Model.) 3 Sheets.-Sheet 1.

E. G. DORGHESTER.

TIMING INSTRUMENT.

No. 580.573. Patented Apr. l3, 1897.

f N i ,7" I

5 Z '4 5 ,F, I 8 i Nj' A WITNESSES INVENTOR 4 ATTORNEY 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

B. G. DORGHESTER.

TIMING INSTRUMENT.

Patented Apr; 18, 1897.

MIIIII'IL-E mmamon Z ATTORNEY 3 M e h .W 6 6 h S 3 R E T S E H 0 R O D G H TIMING INSTRUMENT.

Patented Apr. 13, I897.

ll-III INVENTOR I ATTORNEY (No Model.)

WITNESSES E oem UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

DWA D e. .DORCHESTER, or GENEVA, NEW YORK.

TIMING INSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 580,573, dated April 13, 1897-.

h ncationfiled May 27, 1896. Serial a. 593,240. on model.)

To all whom it may cncerh- I Be'it known that I, EDWARD G. Don'cnns- TER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Geneva, in the county of Ontario, in

the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Timing Instruments, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full,

clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of ,timing instruments which includes the instrument shown in Letters Patent No. 550,444,-

- of the bicycle and is designed-to be used in 'connectionflwith a clock or watch with the time of which the movem'ents'of the hands or indicators of the instrument are to be compared to ascertainif the bicycle is traveling a predetermineddistance within acertain pc- I O O in Fig. 5. '-All of said sectional viewsriod, as hereinafter more fully described. Said clock or watch may bev carried on the person riding abicycle.

My present invention consists in an improved construction and combination of the component parts of the mechanisms of a timing instrument, as hereinafter described, and set forth in the claims. I I

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1- is a perspective view of that part of a bicycle to'which my speed-indicator is applied. Fig. 2 is a 'front view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detached perspective view of said indicator. Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sectional views of the inclosing case,.showing the internal mechanisms. Fig. 6 is a horizontal transverse section on line' Z Z in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a horizontal transverse section on line are taken in the directions indicated by the arrows.. Fig. Sis a horizontal transverse section on line U U in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a horizontal transverse section on line V V'inFig. 5. Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section on line W Win Fig. 7; Fig. 11 is an enlarged side view of the attachment of the instrumentpulsating spurs to the wheel of the bicycle. Fig. 12 is a longitudinal section on line T T in Fig. 11, and Fig. 13 isa perspective detail view of the skeletonsupporting-frame of the -.inclosing case of the'instrument.

Ei'ger gear.

Similar letters of reference indicate corre-. sponding parts.

A denotes-the inclosing case of the speedindicating instrument. This case consists, es'sentially,of a cylindrical body sustained revolubly on the exterior of a skeleton frame consisting of the two end plates A and B which are tied to each other by staves O C opposite or free ends with notches O O, as shown in Fig. 13 of the drawings. The top plate B of the case is provided with notches C of such dimensions as to closely fit therein and then allowing them to spring into the notches C The staves thus become securely of suitable spring metal fastened'at one end to the bottom plate A and provided at the interlocked with the top plate] The cylinon the exterior of the staves and prevented from moving longitudinally by the projection of themargin of the bottom plate A and by the bottom edge of a ring B, attached to the top plate The inner side of the cylindrical body A is provided with spiral grooves ct a for the purpose hereinafter explained. I I I Longitudinally through the center or axis of the case A extends the shaft a, ashereinbefore stated, which shaft has fastened to ita pointer 12, which in the rotation of the shaft traverses the dial B.

To the shaft a is rigidly secured a cone of gears D or a series of gear-wheels of successively-increasing diameters, each individual gear of which is separated from the adjacent companion gear by interposed disks 0 a, each of which;projects with its peripheral edge slightly beyond the face of the adjacent Parallel with the shaft 0- is a gear-wheel d, which is of a length equal to the height of the cone of gears D and is of a uniform diameter throughout its length and pivoted to the end plate of the case A. The gear (2 transmits motion to the shaft a by means of an intermediate pinion e, which is sustained movably in two directions-via, in aline parallel with the shaft (1 and radially toward and from said shaft-so as to allow it to transmit motion from'the gear (1' to the cone of gears D of difdrieal body of the caseis sustained revolubly fcrent diameters and in dilferent planes. By

changing the position of thepinion e to engage a larger or smaller gear of the cone -D the specdof the rotation of the latter is increased or diminished proportionately. For supporting the pinion e'adjustably in its position, as aforesaid, I prefer -to pivot it to the free end of an arm e, pivoted to a platef, which is provided with outwardly-projecting lugs f, by which it rides in the spiral grooves a in the inner side of the case A, as herein- Two of the "staves G C, abutting against opposite sides of two of the before described.

lugs f, serve to prevent the plate from turning with the cylinder of the case in adjust ing-plate f, I pivot to the ends of the case A a post g, which extends through the case par- :allel to the axis thereofand is provided with a longitudinal groove g, which engages a correspondingly-shaped heel f on the plate f back of the pivot thereof, as more-clearly. shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings. One end of the post 9 protrudsfrom the end of the case A and is squared, as shown at g or otherwise suitably shaped for the application of a I suitable instrument by whichto turn said plate, so as to cause it t9 swing the plate f from the cone of gears D.. A suitable spring 71 serves to automatically force the plateff to- I ward the cone of gears.

end a star-wheel I or other suitable device to To limit the inward movement of the free end of the arm a, so as to prevent the pinion e from amming or excessive engagement with the gears of the cone D ;I form said arm with a guard e consisting of an enlargement of'the width of the arm at the axis of the pinion e, which bears on one of the disks 0, as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

The gear 61 receives motion by means of suitable intermediate gears from a shaft 11, which is pivoted to the case and has one end' protruding therefrom and has fastened to said be actuated by the wheel V of the bicycle.

When the said star-wheel is employed, 1 atta-ch to the spokes of the wheel V a suitable spur j, which, during the rotation of said wheel, strikes one of the arms of the starwheel and thereby imparts an impulse, to the shaft 2', which, by'mea'ns of the aforesaid intermediate gears, transmits motion to the gear-wheeld.

In order to adapt the instrument-to be actuated so as to indicate a greater or less speed required to be traveled by the bicycle within a predetermined period, I attach to the wheel Va plate or strap J, provided with two lugs or spurs j and 3', one or both of which are adjustable to and from lateral projectin'g positions. Said adj ustab'ility may be attained in various ways, one'of which is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the'drawings, and

consists of a section of the plate J being hinged to the main portion of said plate, so

as to allow. it to turn atright angles therefrom, and provided with a suitable brace j v to sustain it in its projecting position Sui able latches kare connected to the plate J for locking thesaid hinged section or lug in its required position.

For transmitting motion from the shaft 'tothe wheel at withimi'nimum jars to;tl1e

mechanisms I prefer to employ the worm-gear 'L'Qfasten'ed to the shaft 2' and 'nieshing with a pinion k, fastened to a shaft which is disposed at right angles tothe shaft i and pivoted tosuitable su'pportsl Z, sustained in the case, as shown in Figs. 4 and? of the drawings; To the shaft of the pinion 7c is secured a worm-wheel Z, which meshes with a pinion m, attached to a shaft m at right angles to the. shaft of thepinion 7c, and has fas-' tened to it'a worm-gear n, meshing with the gear-wheel d, which latter wheel is axially at right angles to the-shaft m and parallel with the shaft of thecone of gears D, as hereinbefore described. Thepointer b on the shaft 11 of said'cone of gears is to indicate on the dial B them'inutes of time consumed in the travel of the bicycle, and by comparing the time thus indicated with the. time indicated on the watch the rider ascertains if the bicycletravels at'the desired speed. For indicatingthe hours I'ifastento'the shaft a of thecone of gears a pinion n, which meshes with a gear-wheel 0-, pivoted to suitable supports secured to the interior of the case. The shaft of this wheel projects through the top plate or dial of the case A I and has fastened to'its upper end a pinion o,

which meshes with a gear-wheel 0 mounted loosely on the shaftof the cone of gears D.

The top of the wheel 0 has marked on it or fastened to it a pointer 19, which indicates the hours on the dial B.

To allow the hands orpointers b and p to' be set to correspond tothe time indicated on the watch at the time the rider of the bicycle starts on his trip, 'I make the shaft a of the cone of gears'D of sufficient length to pro trude from the end of the case, preferably from the lower end thereof, as shown, and

to time said shaft. I a r I The-described instrument is made adjustabletoregulat-e the .moyement of the hands 7, or pointers b and 10 to greater-er less speed during the travel of the bicycle over a certain square said end, asshown ata, or otherwise I shape it for the application of a key by which.

distance. This adjustment is effected byturning the cylindrical body of-the case A about its axis, for which purpose I senate or otherwise roughen the exterior of the lower portion of the case A, as shown-at R, which affords a, I good holdfor one hand of the operator to turn the cylindrical body while holding the end of the case by the other hand of the operator,

By turning said case as aforesaid the spiral grooves (1 thereof cause the plate f, hereinbefore described, to move lengthwise of the case and in a line parallel with the shaft a of the cone of gears D. During this operation the shaft 9 is to be turned so as to cause it to swing the arm e outward and hold the pinion e out of contact with the cone of gears, as hereinbefore described. After the arm c has been thus adjusted to bring the pinion e opposite the desired gear of the cone said arm is allowed to throw the pinion into engagement with the gear. Inasmuch-as the pinion e serves to transmit motion to the cone of gears D it is obvious that the shifting of said pinion from one to another of the gears of the cone changes the speed of transmission.

To'lock the cylindrical body of the case to the ends thereof, so as to retain the pinion e in engagement with the desired sized gear of the cone D, I provide the top edge of the cylindrical body of the case A with a series of notches r r, onefor each of the successively smaller gears of the cone D. To the under side of the top plate of the case I connect a.

' sliding bolt r in proximity to the sideof the uppenend of the shaft 9, to which is secured of the ring B, attached to the top plate B of the case, as shown in Fig, 5 of the drawings.

A spring q, secured to the under side of the top plate B and pressing against the inner end of the bolt, forces the latter outward and holds the same in engagement with the notch 'r. In turning the shaft g to throw the pinion e out of engagement with the cone of gears D preparatory to adjusting the instrument for indicatingv different speeds, as hereinbefore described, the pin 8 on said shaft pushes the bolt 0" inward, "so as towithdraw the tongue r thereof from both the lip q and notch r, and thus the cylindrical body of the case A is unlocked from its before-described supportingframe and allowed to be turned thereon to its desired position, where it is then locked by the turning of the shaft 9 to throw the pinion 5 into engagement with the cone of gears D, in which operation the pin 8 on said shaft releases the bolt 4* and allows the spring q to .forcesaid bolt-outward to engage the notch 'r and hole in the lip q. v

A stop t is attached to the exterior of the cylindrical body of the case A in proper position to come in contact with the lipq,,and thereby limit the rotation of said cylindrical body.

The instrument herein illustrated is arranged to be adjustable for speeds of seven, eight, nine, ten,'eleven, twelve, thirteen, fourteen, and fifteen miles per hour by using both spurs j on'the wheel V. By employing only one of said spurs it is obvious that the bicycle must be propelled double the aforesaid speed in order to move the hands or pointers p b of the instrument in unison with the hour and minute hands of the watch or clock.

The top of the case is provided with a crystal or transparent glass disk t, which is secured to the ring B, fastened to the top plate B of the case.

The bottom plate A of the case has projecting from it the bifurcated. shank A, by which to secure it in any suitable manner to the axle of, the wheelV.

What I claim as-my invention is- 1.' A speed-indicator consisting of an inclosing case provided with a dial, a shaft ex-. tending throughsaid case and having aflixed to it a pointer traversing said dial, a plurality of gears of difierent diameters secured to said shaft, an axially-prolonged gear parallel with said shaft, a revoluble spiral axially parallel with the aforesaid shaft, a plate riding on the helices of the spiral, vertical guides preventing said plate from turning with the spiral, a pinion-supported on said plate adjustably to either of the aforesaid difierent-sized gears, a pulsator actuated by the wheel to be timed, and mechanisms transmitting motion from said pulsator to the prolonged gear as set forth:

2. In a speed-indicator, the combination of an inclosing case having a cylindrical body revoluble on the endsof .the case, a dial on one end of said case, a shaft passing through the center of the dial and case, a plurality of gears of different diameters secured to said shaft, apointer onsaid shaftrtrav'ersing the dial, spiral grooves in the inner side of the cylindrical body, a plate riding in said -to transmit motion from the prolonged gear grooves, vertical guides preventing'said plate from turning with the cylindrical body, a

vertical shaft passing through the plate and provided. with a longitudinal groove, an arm pivoted to said plate and formed with a heel engaging said groove to adjustv the arm by the turning of the shaft, a pinion pivoted to the free end of said arm toengage or release either of the aforesaid different-sized gears, an axially-prolonged gear engaging said adjustable pinion, a pulsator actuated by the wheel to be timed, and mechanisms transmitting motion from said pulsator to the prolonged gear, asset forth.

3. In a speed-indicator,the combinationiof an inclosing case having a cylindrical body revoluble on the ends of the case, a dial on IIO one end of the case, a shaft passing through a 1 gear cl tothecone'of' gears, asset forth.

engage either of theaforesaiddifierent-siied.

gears, an axially-prolonged -gear engaging said pinion, apulsator-shaft actuated by the wheeltobetimed, a Worm-gear on said pulsator-shaft, and intermediate gears transmit: ting motion-fromsaidworm gear to the aforesaid prolonged gear to relieve the instrument 7 firom excessive motion, as set forth.

ars in'th'e' transmission of 4. The combination with the shaft or and gear (2 axially parallelwith saidshaft, of the :coneof gears D,. interposed-disks c 0, arm 6" movable toward and frorn'said cone andformed with the guard e and the pinion epivoted to said arm and transmitting motion from the 5. The combination .of the case A having its cylindrical body revol-uble OII-thG endpor- ,:tions of the case, a cone of gears in said case,

a gear-wheel axially prolonged and parallel with the axis of the cone, a spiral way on the inner side lot the revoluble body, aplate ridrestrained from t; 011 Said spiral way and rotating with the aforesaid bod y'to cause said plate to bejm'oved lengthwiseof the cone by r the rotation, of said body, a pinion supported on said plate adjustably' to transmit motion from the-prolonged gear to eitherof the different-sized gears of the cone, and means'for locking the revoluble body in its adjusted position.

6. The combinationof the case-A having its cylindrical body ievoluble on the endpoitions of the case and provided with a spiral helices of the spiral way and restrained from way on its inner side, a shaft extending through the case parallel with the axis thereof, a'plurality of gears of diiferent diameters secured to said shaft, a p'late'riding on the rotating with the revoluble body, an axiallyfprolonged gear parallel with the aforesaid shaft, a pinion supported on the aforesaid plate adjustably to'transmit motion from the prolonged gear to either of the aforesaid dif fe'rentsized gears, aseries of bolt-holes in the wall of the cylindrical body and arranged to indicate the-degree of rotation required of said body to carry the adjustable pinion to the desired different-sized gear, and a bolt locking the said body in its adjusted position, as set forth.

- -7.' The combination of the case A. having its cylindrical body revoluble on the end portions of the case and provided on its inner side with a spiral. groove, a' dial on the end of the case, a shaft passing through the centers of the dial and case, a pointer on the end of said shaft, a cone of gears secured to said shaft inside of the case, an axially-prolonged of the case and engaging the pivoted arm to adjust the same, a series of bolt-holes in the wall'of the revoluble' body, a bolt entering staid holes to lock said body, and'a pin on the aforesaid pivoted post engaging the bolt to withdraw the same from its interlocked position simultaneously with the adjustment of the pivoted arm to throw the pinion thereof out of engagement with the cone of gears, as

set forth.

8. The case A composed of the end plates B 'and A staves O C tying said plates together, and a cylindrical body sustained revolubly on the exterior of the said staves between the end plates of the case, as set forth.

9. In combination with the timing instrument and vehicle-wheel to be timed, a starwheelattached to the protruding end of the pul'sator-shaft of said instrument, a plate secured to thevehicle-wheel, and a plurality of spurs connected to said plate adj ustably into and out of position to come in contact with the star-wheel to impart more orless impulses to the timing instrument during each revolution of the vehicle-wheel.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 22d day of April, 1896.

- EDWARD G. DORCHES'IER, [L. 8.]

a Witnesses:

G. W. NICHOLAS, M. E. MORRISON. 

